The Strike Broken.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 170, 17 January 1914, Page 5

The Strike Broken.

By Firm and Prompt Measures. Exceptional Display of Force. Trades' Hall Entered & Leaders Arrested The Railways Resuming Work. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright

'CORDON ROUNjD TRADE'S HALL. SUPPORTED BY ARTILLERY. BAIN'S PROTEST. XEADERS AND OTHERS ARRESTED. BACK OF THE STRIKE BROKEN. RAILWAY TO RESUME. Johannesburg, January 15. the Government's reply to the Trades' Hall message at midday, the •cordon round the Hall was .greatly strengthened with additional police, and a commando of burghers. A 12-pounder was posted in Commissioner and trained on the Trades Hall. General De la Rev, and the control officer (Colonel Trutcr) superintended the dispositions. When this work was completed. Bain appeared at a window of the Trades Hall and protested against such a display of force, pointing out that the Strike Committee were unarmed, and that they were offering no resistance. If, lie added, bloodshed ensued after tbii! notification, they would hold the Government responsible. Major Douglas, who is commanding •the police, replied that if they did not surrender the authorities must lis* force.

the strike now being general, the Federation is prepared to discuss a settlement.

A Trades Hall message to Rcuter states that the federation is willing to meet the Government, and desire to discuss the whole situation with them.

The stevedores striking are estimated at from 509 to 700. , They demand, inter alia, Cs daily instead of 4s lid and ss, and an eight-hour day, Shipping at present is little affected. Crews are working die ships with the assistance of a few loyal men, but work is necessarily retarded. Johannesburg. January 15.

The Transvaal Leader came out with only four sheets this morning, set by hand. Hitherto it was a union house, but it announces that in future it will be a non-union house.

Reports from the East Rand proI prietary mines show that except a few I in tiie Outangels and Drienfontein secI tions. the whole group is in full swing 'and the feeling is .■ f the quietest. Jt is staled that the managers, who have been at headquarters since six this morning, are optimistic of. the prospect of keeping the whole of this group working. The night passed absolutely without incident, apart from arrests of persons not possessing permits. Disturbances occurred in the streets at Benoni yesterday evening, the strikers tin-owing dynamite amongst the police. Twenty-three arrests were made. The position along forty miles of reef

Bain replied: "The force is on your side to-day." Then down came the police, and entered the building. They arrested Watson (president of the Federation), Bain, Mason, Crawford, and Ware, together with the other leaders and their immediate followers, 'he total being 3a, all of whom were preliminarily committed to prison for 21 days under the Peace Preservation Ordinance of 190%. Subsequently the secretary and entire executive of. the Amalgamated Society of Engineers were arrested at their offices in the centre of the city. A number of other Laborites were arrested in different parts of the country. The back of the strike is regarded as broken.

varies. j n some mines all the underground men are coming out, while in other mines the underground men are working, only the surface men striking. In others the majority of both surface men and underground men are working.

DRASTIC •:VIICASURES. PROVE El''!■■!•:('TlTAD. FI'RTHER STRIKE LEADERS ARRESTED. . Received lfi, 11.10 p.m. Capetown, January lfi. A number of mechanics at the Premier diamond mine, a vast property near Pretoria, have struck. The ringleaders were immediately arrested. The strikers, thereupon, asked to lie allowed io resume, 'but this was refused.

Routers correspondent states that throughout, the strike region in tlie Transvaal, Xatal, and Free State reports indicate an abatement of the strike, and that the abatement lias created enthusiasm.

The full railway services are expected to be resumed to-morrow.

The Cape Trade Federation adjourned after a prolonged deliberation. They declined te make any announcement, but it is believed the idea of a general strike in the Cape province lias been abandoned in view of to-day's developments at .Johannesburg. i

The position at the mines is practically unaltered since the morning. Capetown, January 15.

Renter's Agency is informed that the Government's letter to the men in ihc Trades Hail was sternly brief, and gave them five minutes to come out, failing •which they would be brought out. • After the expiry of the 21 days' incarceration, graver charges will foe lodged against the chief leaders. The collapse of the strike seems imminent'. The' men are streaming back »t Bloerofontein and other points on the railway!;, as they consider it useless to continuing striking now (hat the leaders

Pretoria. January IG. -Mounted, and foot .police last night raided the strike headquarters, and arrested twenty lenders, including the entire committee. WORKERS ltKSf.'Mli. VESSELS WORK!•]) iIV KAFFIRS. Received 17, 12.:!;; a.m. I Capetown, January 10. fin the Strike Commit tie's recommenjilation. the ; Sn!l River strikers returned |to work this morning. They were | taken on unconditionally, with the exception of a few' for whom there was no work, and the strike leaders, iincluding the local secretary of railwayi men.

*ave got everything in chaos. An early lollapsc of the miners* strike is confidently predicted.

The general opinion at Johannesburg i to-night is that unquestionably the first ' prompt measures taken will quickly end j the strike and restore normal condi- ' lions. . I STRIKE OF STEVEDORES. i I RAND ~'JXES AT WORK. ■STRIKE LEADERS IN' A QUANDARY. Capetown, January 15. Some hundreds of colored stevedores • employed by private firms struck at •Capetown docks this morning, demanding belter pay. Otherwise the situation on the Cape peninsula is improvfing. Further strikers have returned to work at Salt River, but men in trades generally arc marking time. The strike in the Cape peninsula is fizzling out. The Cape. Federation.meet to-night to consider whether there shall lie a general strike throughout the Cape province or not. Renter's Pretoria correspondent states that applications were made by the strike leaders in the Supreme Court this tnoi-niiig for the Government to show cause why they were detained. The .applications were postpbned indefinitely. The men arc how detained under martial law. Communications from Trades Hall to Renter states that as a result of a conference between a railwav deputation -*nd the Federation's Strike Committee it ha 6 been decided to communicate with -ike-Government. The proposal .is thai

Despite the strike of stevedores, workon the docks i, proceeding at about half normal speed. Tic vessels are being worked by Kallirs. IH'KCIIERS To IS ETA IN IiIFLES. Pretoria. January IG. The Government lias decided that the burghers who responded to tile niotiil-i-ation order shall be allowed to retain .without payment, the rilles issued to them in the present, cii-is so long as they remain members oi the defenc force rifle associations. XATAL MEN' COWED. Durban, January 30. The Natal Trade, Federation delegates adjourned late last night lifter, a I protracted discussion. No statonicnt I was issued, but if !-, believed they found I it inexpedient to proclaim u general strike in Xatal.